Rail fastener



C. PHILIPS RAIL FASTENER Feb. 22, 1949.

Filed Aug. 2, v1945 Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICERAIL FASTENER Calvin Philips, Seattle, Wash.

Appiication August 2, 1945, Serial No. 608,528

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in rail fastener and moreparticularly to the construction of the cross ties that support therails of the track and to the means for securing the rails to the crosstie.

It has been customary heretofore to use wooden cross ties for supportingthe rails of a railroad track, and securing the rails thereto by spikesdriven into the cross tie with flanged heads overlying the base anges ofthe rails to hold the rails in place. It is well-known that such woodenties wear in service, allowing loosening of the spikes, and have to bereplaced at frequent intervals because the rails are not maintained insecure supported position in the trackway. While it has been proposedheretofore to construct such cross ties of metal, this has not beencommercially practicable either because of the construction of the crossties or the manner provided for securing the rails thereto.

The object of this invention is to simplify and improve the tieconstruction while forming the tie of metal or other suitable formingmaterial, to provide a rigid support for the rails which will beretained in place securely during a long period of use.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction of therail fastening which secures the rails to the cross ties, to make itpractical to use a metal cross tie for supporting the rails and toanchor securely the rails in place theron without serious danger ofloosening in service.

'Ihese objects are accomplished in a track f construction which is builtaccording to one embodiment of this invention by forming the cross tieof heavy sheet metal or other suitable sheet forming material providedwith spaced seats thereon for receiving the rails, and having provisionfor securing the rails in place on the tie by clips that are slidablymounted on the upper surface of the tie and may be forced intofrictional engagement with the base flanges of the rails. The clips areso constructed as to be driven into place and yet Will be retainedsecurely against danger of slipping from their supported positions, andwill maintain a secure fastening of the rail base at each end of thecross tie in service.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a section of track showing an applicationof the invention thereto;

Eig. 2 is a cross section through the track substantially on the `line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a'perspective view of the cross tie detached from the rail;and

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a cross tie showing a modification.

The invention is shown as applied to a railroad track of conventionalform in which a pair of rails, designated generally by the numeral I,are held in spaced relation in the trackway for supporting a trainpassing thereover. Each of the rails I has a pair of laterally extendingbase iianges 2 thereon for securing the rails in place in the trackway.The rails I are customarily mounted upon cross ties spaced at intervalstherealong which support the rails and anchor the track to the road bed.

These cross ties, according to this invention, are designated generallyby the numeral 3. Each tie comprises an elongated inverted channelhaving a top 4, and down-turned opposite sides 5, an'd is open atopposite ends. These parts are formed preferably of heavy sheet metal orother ysuitable material adapted for fabrication of the cross tietherefrom and to be bent into a rigid secure structure having thecharacteristics described.

The sides 5 may be provided with out-turned anges 6, if desired,especially for main line track, to engage in the ballast and prevent thetie from slipping across the road bed. The opposite sides 5 that carrythe major part of the weight of the rails may be stiiened by upturnedlower edges l which reinforce said sides. These anges 6 and upturnededges 'l may be used if desired, or omitted, if not required.

The top A of the cross tie is provided with rail seats 8 adjacentopposite ends thereof formed by depressing the top wall and adjacentportions of the side walls 5 suiiiciently to form depressed seats of adepth substantially equal to the rail flanges 2 and to accommodate theflanges therein throughout a width substantially equal to the width ofthe ilanges. This provides a secure seat for each rail which will holdthe rail against transverse slipping relative to the tie.

The rails are secured in place on the seats S by clips 5i which aredriven transversely of the rail flanges 2, beneath transverse guides orstraps H formed integral with the top wall 5 of the cross tie and bentupward from the horizontal plane of said top wall to form thesetransverse straps. The straps E!) form loops on the tie with an openingin the tie beneath the straps l0, as

shown. The clips 9 are substantially Z-shaped with a shoulder H therein,and are driven through the loops formed by the guides lil with theirinner ends overlapping the upper surfaces of the rail anges 2 againstthe web of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2. The shoulder Il will be driveninto and under the loops formed by the guide l0 with the shoulder H inengagement with the edge of said opening. As the metal of the strap il!ordinarily will notl have sufficient resiliency to spring back intoplace after the clips have been driven in, it will probably be founddesirable to secure these clips in place. by pound'- ing down the crossstraps I0 which will rrnly'lock the clips 9 sufciently to preventthemfrom slipping out of place.

This construction makes it possible to yform the cross ties of metal orother suitable fabricating material which will support the railssecurely'and to which the rails may be anchored eiectively in averysimple manner. Thefastening of the rails on the crossftiefisaccomplished merely by the act of driving in the clips and if necessarydepressing the straps tohold these securely in place. This will-anchorthe rails securely to the cross tie and maintain the fastening thereofduring. a long-period fof service.

AtY the same time, the cross tie is so constructed as to form a rigidstructure, and will be held securely in the ballast of the road bed.

The clip fastenings are not readily removed and, therefore, do not lendthemselves' to unauthorized removal and loosening of the rails.

This invention is particularly useful in preventing train wrecks due tospreading of the rails.

I claim:

1. A rail fastening comprising an all metal pressed cross tie for arailroad rail having a base, said cross tie having a body portion withatop side provided with a stamped recess with spaced shoulders inposition to receive and abut the edges of the base of said rail, and atransverse strap forming a loop aixed to the top side oi said tieadjacent said recess, said strap being formed by stamping out the metalof the top side of said tie thereby forming an opening therein undersaid strap, a clip extending inwardly through said loop and bridgingsaid opening in position for wedging relation with the base of said railand adapted to secure the rail positively to the tie, and a shoulder onsaid clip abutting a side of said opening under the strap, whereby saidclip is positively locked against lateral moveinent away from the rail,Said clip being a substantially flat plate member.

2. A railv fastening comprising an all metal pressed cross tie for arailroad rail having a base, said cross tie having a body portion with a'top side provided with a stamped recess with spaced shoulders inposition to receive and abut the edges of the base of said rail, and atransverse strap forming-a loop afxedto the top side of said tieadjacent said recess, said tie having an opening therein under saidstrap, a clip extending .inwardly through said loopz and bridging saidopening in position for wedging relation with the base ci said rail andadapted to secure the rail posit-iveiy tothe tie, a shoulder on saidclip abutting a side oi said opening under the strap, whereby .said clipis positively locked against later@ .movement away from the raii, saidclip being a substantially iiat plate member.

CALVIN PHILIPS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Eile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 678,463 Fitzsirnrnons July 16,1901 966,284 Williamson Aug. 2, 1910 1,010,452 Pierce Bec. 5, 1911i Y1,031,994 Frank July 9, 1912 "1,086,411 Spencer Feb. l0, 1914 1,331,412Brown Feb. 1'?, 1920 1,863,145 Young June 14, 1932 2,265,745 Roscoe Dec.v9, 1941 FORETGN PATENTS Number Country Date 599,049 France Oct. 12,1925

